WELLINGTON DISTRICT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1938, Page 12

WELLINGTON DISTRICT

NUMEROUS CASES

SCHOOLS AFFECTED

The epidemic of common and German measles which has been prevalent in New Zealand for some weeks past is being severely felt in the Wellington, district and the attendances of schools have been noticeably affected. So far as can be ascertained, no schools have actually been closed on account of the epidemic, although in a number of cases a large number of the children have been absent at different periods owing to the disease.

Children are chiefly affected by the disease, as it is rare for it to be contracted twice and most adult persons have experienced it during youth. Although its consequences are not generally serious, it is not a disease to be taken lightly and patients should be carefully nursed and kept in bed until the temperature has abated.

The Medical Officer of Health for the Wellington district (Dr. F. S. MacLean) stated ioday that the effects of the epidemic were being more severely felt in some parts of the district than in others, where the worst of the epidemic had passed. A number of cases with complications had been encountered and one or two deaths had been reported. Every precaution should be observed by parents in nursing children who had contracted the disease.

Referring to the position in New Zealand generally, Dr. T. R. Ritchie, Director of the Public Hygiene Division of the Health Department, stated that the measles epidemic was at present, widespread in the Dominion but was of hot more than average severity. Measles epidemics were usually experienced in cycles every three or four years and the present epidemic was an experience of this nature. The epidemic had assumed its most severe proportions in the North Auckland district several weeks ago when, in addition, to the normal cases of the disease,' several cases with complications had been reported. .-•'.-